Bottle washing and sterilizing apparatus



0. LARSEN BOTTLE WASHING AND STERILIZING APPARATUS Filed Oct. 8, 192:5 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Oct. 23, 1928.

O. LARSEN BOTTLE WA SHING AND STERILIZING APPARATUS Filed 001;. 8,- 1923 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 @f/ZZZ? Ok f [dz 5622 Oct. 23, 1928. 1,688,501

4 o. LARSEN BOTTLE WASHING AND STERILIZING APPARATUS Filed Oct. 8, 1923 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 7 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 O LARSEN BOTTLE WASHING AND STERILIZING APPARATUS Filed Oct. 8, 1923 Oct. 23, 1928.

E Aw v a W,

.25 in form, construction and l atented Get. 23, 1928. 7

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

oLAr LABSEN, or FORT ATKINSON, WISCONSIN, ASSIGNOR To THE CREAMERY PACK- AGE MFG. COMPANY, or CHICAGO, iLLiivoIs,

A COBPORATIOH OF ILLINOIS.

BOTTLE WASHING Ann SIERILIZING APPARATUS.

Application filed October s, 1923. semi No. $67,220.

The invention relatesto machines for the washing, rinsing and sterilizing of bottles, more particularly to an automatic machine adapted to the cleansing of milk bottles by means of pressure jets of washing and sterilizing fluids. 1 7 Apparatus of this type heretofore have been produced generally in large units in connection with automatic receiving and deliver ing devices for the handling of large quantities of bottles in dairies andmilk plants of large size.

It is the principal object of this invention to provide a machine of economical construction and efficient operation for use in small dairies using a limited quantity of bottles and without extensive conveying systems for the latter, and requiring the minimum of attendance 1n the operation of the machine.

-20. Other objects and advantages will be apparent in the following description of a preferred embodiment of the invention which I have selected for illustration herein. It will be understood, however, that various'changes be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as expressed in the appended claims. I Referring to the drawings, Fig. 1 is a plan view of the machine havingthe carrier belt and bottle holding pockets removed to disclose the underlying structure. 7 side elevation of the machine and Fig.3 an end elevation, both figures also showing the of the end andside walls removed to disclose the interior construction. Fig. 4 is a fractional plan view of the rear end of the machine showing the carrier belt and bottle holding pockets in position, and the means for driving the carrier. Fig. 5 is a fractional sectional elevation of the rear end ofthe machine. Fig. 6 is a similar fractional elevation of the front end of the machine. a fractional sectional view of the conveyor supporting guide rails with a detailed view of one of the bottleholders.

Stated generally, the machine comprises a divided tank over whichoperates a horizontally positioned endless carrier having pocket holders for the carrying of bottles in inverted position. One run of the carrier operates over one section of the tank wherein are devices for the washing of the bottles by presarrangement may Fig. 2 is a carrier as being removed and having portions i Fig. 7 is surejets asthey progress through the tank. The return run of the carrier conveys the bottlesthrough the other section of thetank wherein rinsing and sterilizing devices are provided for the tlQflillliGllt'QfitllG bottles by pressure jets. that a single operator 'niayrplace dirty botbottles, performing both operations manuall at one end of the machine 'as the carrier passes around its supporting sheave, the

latter being pos tioned on a table extending outwardly from the tank whereat the carrier the tank and extending therebelow to give a substantial clearance beneath the tank. The bottom 3 of the tank is preferably inclined towards its front end.

A partition 4 divides the tank into two compartments, the compartment 5 being adapted to containa suitable washing solution, and the other compartment 6 a rinsing fluid, together with mechanism for the application of the fluids to the'-bottles, more fully 'described hereinafter.

Secured to thefront and rear endsrespec- 'tively of the tank area pair of table supports 7 and 8 on which are pivoted the idler sheaves on which the carrier is supported. The side wallsof the tank extend above the horizontal position ofthe tables as indicated at 9, and are preferably surmounted by a cover "10 forming a chamber over the tank for the operation therein of the spraying devices upon the bottles carried by which the spent liquids drain back into the lower portions of the tank.

The front table 7 is consti'uctedwith an upwardly extending flange 11 forining'a lateral enclosure about the table, the latter having its bottom portion extending over the end wall of the, tank, preferably with a downwardly turned fiange 12 adapted to carry water draining from the bottles upon the table over the tank wall and into, the respective compartments. (See Fig. 6.) An inward extension 13 is also provided in each compartment for the support of the carrier guide rails hereinafter described.

A hearing block 14 is mounted on the botthe conveyor, and from co 7 The machine is so arranged ties on the carrier and remove the treated Inn llU

tom of the table 7, having a longitudinally slidable support thereon, and adj ustably secured thereto preferably by means of a bolt 15 carried by the block and extending through an elongated slot 16 in the bottom of the table.

The bearing block 14; carries an upright pivot pin 17 on which is mounted a sheave l8 positioned for rotation on a horizontal plane, the sheave and pin preferably being operatively secured to the bearing block by means of a removable set screw 19 mounted in the bearing block and extending into an annular having-also a therewith.

. table.

"tl'lttl, the latter .iipper rail being groove in the pivot pin. The bearing block 1% is also provided with a'semi-circular guide 20 constructed with a 'a'flat bearing portion 21 and a concentric shoulder22 for the support of the carrier pockets, hereinafter described, in their pas- V sage about the sheave. 20

"The rear table 8 is also constructed, with an upstanding lateral flange 23 forming a basin for drainage from the table into the tank, its bottom also provided with a downwardly extending flange 2 lpositioned inwardly of the rear end wall of the tank, and pair of rail supports 25 integral A second horizontally positioned sheave 26 is'supported on the rear table 8,

' having a pivot pin 27 operatively supported ina bearing 28 formed in the bottom of the The table 8 is also provided witha curved supporting guide 29 for the carrier pockets, having a flat bearing surface30 with an upraised inner portion forming a lateral shoulder 31.

A driving sprocket 32 is positioned onthe rear table 8 laterally of the sheave 2G,;ind is mounted on a drive shaft 33 extending through a suitable bearing 34 in the bottom I g I bottomof V the tank, Where driving means is provided as of the table and downward to the rail 35, (see Fig.

36 and supported at the front and rear ends of the machine by the sheaves 18 and 26, is an endless carrier 38, preferably of pivoted link construction, the links passing in operative engagement with the offset driving sprocket 32 by'which the carrier is operated.

spaced at regular intervals on the carrier 38 are bottle receiving pockets or holders 39.

As herein illustrated, the holders are rigidly secured to individual links of the chain car "ricr, and comprise a cup shaped annular strucchine of each of the valve 59. In order not to dilute solution contained in the washing compartture, open at the top and bottom, and having an inwardly inclined inner surface on which are provided vertical ribs 40, the latterending in inturned endportions 4-.lj for the support of the mouth end of an nverted bottle. I

The spaces between the ribs provide for the passage of the cleansing fluids about the bot-' tles positioned in the holders, and the latter are also rovided with lateral o enin s 42 L P a:

between-the ribs'for further access of the cleansing fluids to the bottles. f j

Eacliof the holders is laterally provided at its upper edge with an extension 43, having a slot 44 extending across itsupper face which is adapted to engage the upper rail 36, the latter passing through the slot 44 as the holder progresses through'the tank. Alower lateral exi'zension dais also provided on' its under surface with a slot 46 which engages the lower rail 35.

over the jets within the tank compartments. ,ln the travel of the holdersabout the sheaves at ,"their lower extensions 45"bear upon 'lhe'holders are'thus supported in their passage through the machine in upright position and accurately guided the front and rear ends of the mathe guides 20 and 29, provided in the bottom portions of the front and rear tables, and are secured in upright position by their lateral, abutment with the shoulders 22 and 31. "The carrier chain may be maintained without slack by ad ustineiit of the bearing block lat uponits support in the bottom of the front table 7 v The tank compartment 5 is adapted for the employment of a suitable solution for the first Washing or cleansing operation,;tlie ,circulation of the solution being accomplished by means of a pump 47 (see Fig. on the horizontal supports 48 carried by brackets 49 secured to the tank supports 2.- An intake pipe 50 is'connectedthrough the 'end wall of the tank compartment with "a tubular screen 51, the solution being discharged from the pump through a pipe 52 entering the tank through its lateral Wall, and supplying liquid to the horizontal header 53 alined beneath the path of the bottle holders on the carrier. The header 53 is provided with a plurality of jet orifices 54 positioned in its upper surface, which are arranged to spray the washing solution withinand without thebottles as they pass thereo-ver.

2) mounted" There is preferably provided also in com i 'partment 5, means for a cold water preliminary rinse comprising a horizontal header 55, having similar-jet, orifices 56 in its upper surface and connected by the pipe 57 with a supply pipe 58, leading from" a source of supply of fresh water and controlled .by the and cool the merit, a removable pan 60 may be located beneath thevcold Water spray head '55 adapted to receive the falling spent water. The pan is shown extending th 'ough the sidewall of thetank, its; inner end suspended-by a strap from the rail.35. charges the water collected by outthe tank. I

For Washing the outer sides of the inverted bottles there may be further provided an overhead spray herein illustrated as com prising the pipe header 62-, positioned in the upper part of the-enclosure through which the conveyor travels, and havingjet orifices in its lower surfaces adapted-to spray from above the passing bottles. The spray pipe 62 is connected by thepipe (iii-with the discharge pipe 52 leading from the pump 4:?

After the bottles have passed through the washing compartment and around the real sheave 26, they enterthe other compartment 6, wherein they are subjected to rinsingand sterilizing operations. The rinsing is preferably done by'clear water contained in the compartment and circulated for'spraying the bottles by means the pan withcenter line of the path of thebottle [conveying holders. The bottles may beoutwardly rinsed by means of the overhead spray pipe .70, havin jet orifices in its under surface and connected with the through the pipe 71.

over sterilizing jets provided in the short header 72, positioned beneath the path of the bottles at the front end of the compartment and having spaced jet orifices 73, positioned to inject hot steam into the passinghottles, the header 72 having a pipe connection 74 with a steam supply line 75, leading from the front end of the machine, the sterilizing jets being controlled by the valve 76.

The liquids in the two compartments of the tank maybe heated to the" desired temperature by means of the suitably constructed steam heaters indicated at 77, within each of the tanks, through the connections 78 from the steam line 7 5, the heaters being individually controlled by the valves 7 9. The tanks may be supplied with water as required through the discharge outlets 80, entering the front end of the respective compartments and reSPectively controlled by the valves 81 having pipe connections 82 with the Water supply line58a f As herein illustrated, the two pumps L7 and (Mare preferably operated with a com: mon drive shaft 83, (see A drain tubel61 dis of a second pumped, '2) mounted on the supports d8, and having discharge pipe 67,

and supplied with steam Fig. 2) and posi tioned thereonrintermediately of the pumps is'a pulley 8%,havinga belt connection with a driven pulley85, mounted on the shaft 86, having suitable bearings insupports 87 and Y 88 carriedby the outer supports 48 and the 89- end structure of. the tank. A Worm mounted on the-shaft 86, operatively engages" a worm gear 90', mounted shaft'33, carrying the carrier driving sprock-v "washed and -1nanually place them in the pockets of the carrier as the 'latter passes around the front supporting sheave, remov they have passed ing the bottles after through the washing' and the rinslng and t8jLlZ111g compartments as they return over s the front table of the hem in-the cases. It will beobserved that all offthe control valves forthe adjustment of the pressures and supply fluids being used, are located conveniently to the hand of the operator at the front end of;

the machine.

I claim as my invention: 7 1. Apparatus prising a tank longitudinally divided into two compartments, means for washing bottles in one of said compartments, means forrins ing bottles in the other of said compartments,

, p a pair of tables secured outwardly of the ends After being rinsed the bottles are conveyed of said tank respectively and extending across the endsof said compartments, a sheave pivoted upon one of said tables, a second sheave pivoted upon the other said tables, an endess carrier operatively supported on said sheaves and having one run passing through one of said {compartments and the otherrun passing through the other of said comparton the. upright The shaft ,33 has its lower bearing in the gear-housing 91 mounted on the rear end the operation of I machine and replacing of the class described comof the several 7 I ments,'a series of spaced holders mounted on said carrier adapted to receive inverted bottles and convey said bottles through said compartments for operation thereupon. by said washing means and said rinsing means, and means for operating said carrier..

2. Apparatus of the class described comprising a tank, bottle cleansing means in said tank, a table secured without one end of said.

tank having a sheave pivoted thereon, an--' other table secured without the oth'erend of said tank also having a sheave pivoted thereon, an endless carrier operatively supported on said sheaves, and passing through said tank, a series of bottle holders secured laterally on said carrier, rails in said tank for the guid ng support of said holdersin their pas sage. therethrough, and guides on said tables concentric with said sheaves for the support tank, a pair of tables secured tables. a V

8.;In apparatusof the class described, having a tank and means therein for cleansing bottles, the COIXlblIliLtlOll of an endless carrier positionedwith its runs passing through said respectively at each end of said tank,'a pair of sheaves pivoted.

, respectively on each of said tables and operatively supporting said carrier, a series of bottle holders laterally secured on said carrier, and curved guideways on said tables respective1y,"said guideways being adapted to receive and support the laterally extending bottle holders in theirpa'ssage with said carrier about said sheaves. V

4.1 In apparatus of the class described, having a tank and means therein for cleansing bottles, the combination of an endless carrier positioned vwith its'runs passing through said tank, a series of laterally attached bottle 1 holders on said carrier, a table secured at one end of said tank having a sheave pivoted thereon for the operative support of said car- ,rier and having a ,q'uideway for the support of passing bottle holders, another table secured at, the opposite end of said tank, a block adf justably positioned on said latter table, a

sheave. c s V i, 5. Apparatus of the class described, corn-' rier, curved guideways on sheave pivoted on said'block for the operative support of said carrier, and a guideway formed on said blockinconcentrlc relation to said sheave adapted to support said holders in their passage about said second mentioned prising a tank, bottle c'leansing means in said tank, an endlessmarnerpositioned w th its runs extending through saidtank, a pair of tablessecured respectivelyat each end of said tank,-a pair ofsheaives pivoted respectiveiyon each of said ta'bies'and operatively supporting said carrier, a series of laterally extending bottle holders secured on said cari said tablesadapted to support said bottle holders in their passage about said-sheaves, and a pairof spaced rails positioned adjacent each of. the runs 01" said carrier through said tank-andextend ing between the ends of said guideways, said rails 11: ring lateral sliding" engagement'with 7 o AF'LAnsENQ have hereunto atone side of said holdersto guidingly support j in operative relation to said 7 

